APN -epc.tmobile.com vs. wap.voicestream.com???

[kevinscrackberry]

On my last Bold, I used APN wap.voicestream.com. Now I'm using the 8900 and the APN is epc.tmobile.com. What is the difference between the 2?

[nokian93]

Wap is if your using a basic phone. Kind of like a dumbed down internet. Epc is for the smartphones like g1 and blackberrys. Depending on what internet plan you got, would depend on what apn you use.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[ganns1980]

Nokian93 - I don't think that's the case. On my 8100, 8220, and 8320 the APN was wap.voicestream.com. On my 8900 it's epc.tmobile.com. I know that doesn't answer your question, kevin, I was wondering that too.

[VIDGMER]

I just stick with epc.tmobile.com instead of wap.voicestream.com. PLEASE dont change configuration settings.. It is provided as is, and isn't necessarly modify.

[nokian93]

Exactly the internet on anything besides the 8900 or the bold sucked! And they used the voicestream access point. On my iphone with tmo when I had the tzones plan I had to use the wap.voicestream apn because thru the other apn it would tell me I didn't have the correct internet plan. So like I said, it depends on what plan you have thatll depend on what apn tyou use. But like ganns said, don't mess with your settings unlike your using a different provider.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[jackm3]

from what Ive read, epc.tmobile.com compresses image files differently... allowing for slightly faster data transfers.

[es_bih]

Originally Posted by nokian93

Wap is if your using a basic phone. Kind of like a dumbed down internet. Epc is for the smartphones like g1 and blackberrys. Depending on what internet plan you got, would depend on what apn you use.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

epc is an apn just like the wap one. You can you either one. The epc tends to be faster.

[kevinscrackberry]

Jackm3 is correct. After posting I did some research and EPC does download faster IF your phone allows it. There is also internet2.voicestream.com

[nokian93]

Internet2 was what was used on the wing. Its not really used anymore.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[phoneking13]

Originally Posted by nokian93

Internet2 was what was used on the wing. Its not really used anymore.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

I never used that one on the Wing.....

[moniquexiv]

I work for t-mobile and we always use the apn internet2.voicestream.com ... Tech support always has me use that apn when configuring an iphone

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[kwyetstorm]

Originally Posted by moniquexiv

I work for t-mobile and we always use the apn internet2.voicestream.com ... Tech support always has me use that apn when configuring an iphone

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

When I got my storm and called tmobile to get the internet settings tech supp said to never use the wap because it is not made for the blackberry and would make the internet slower. I also used internet2 when I had my wing. I have actually tried both wap and epc on my storm, and either way, sometimes its fast and sometimes its super slow...boooo

We have to remember that no matter what APN u pick if you're not in a prime service area ur service will suffer at times

[BluCheze]

I have epc.tmobile.com on my 8900. I changed it to wap.voicestream.com and saw no difference in internet browsing. Twitt2pic says you should change it to wap. In order to use it but that's unrelated to OPs question.

[magicshortbus]

All the APN code's are the exact same in speed, and bandwith. In my area I get 512 kb/s on all 3 APN's. But personally, I think epc.tmobile.com and internet2.voicestream.com are the fastest and wap being the slowest, but in reality, the results show 512 kb/s for all. Hope this answered your question.

[Jason.Bourne]

Wow, a few misconceptions here.

First, look at an APN as a security config. If your user profile allows access to such resource, than upon request it grants you access. Pay attention to 'upon request'. This APN will also define IP adress ranges to be assigned to the user, as well the gateway(s) where this connection goes out to. Most of the time, IPs are assigned by network core component, as private, and therefore NATed.

So, understanding this, it does not limit nor increase the speed. Speed will be determined by what the radio access has determined as your maximum, what the device requested, and at the firewall, at the bandwith available from the provider's pipe. It's not because the Bold supports 1.8 mbps, that AT&T will give you all the time, 1.8mbps.

Second, you can't change the APN used on the internet, blackberry nor WAP browser. It's coded in the handheld code. That's why ealier I said to pay attention to 'upon request'.

The TCP setting is used for apps. Possibly a browser such as Opera could use the wap APN if you don't have a blackberry plan for instance. By default, all data goes through the blackberry.net APN. If the IP isn't routable, the device would look at the second active PDP context if available.

Unless you get access to the core network, you won't see what APN the device is really using. You won't see what is the device REALLY requesting. AirCards have a great interface, they use what you provide, but iPhones and Blackberry, have pre-defined PDP contexts pointing to APN using parameter sent by providers.

All providers set an APN for the blackberry called blackberry.net. The others such as WAP, MMS, Visual Voicemail, etc... are carrier set. Manufacturer just populate the info in their software as required. That's why sometimes getting a grey market phone can be a headache. If you think setting MMS on an iPhone on a "illigal" carrier is fun, you should see some of these Chinese phones.

Not sure why t-mo decided to make two WAP APNs, beside the IPs ranges being different, possibly just addition of egress/IPs/equipment to the legacy Voicestream stuff. Maybe simply load balancing also. epc.tmobile.com assigns IPs in the 14.69.0.0/16 range, where wap.voicestream.com APN assigns something else, can't find the range in my notes. Not really important anyhow.

Careful not to take all for granted when you read about APNs, a lot of it is BS as a matter of fact, just a waste of time in my opinion.

Cheers.